Confused by terminology - hypothyroid

[RockinDobbin]

I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid about a year and a half ago. It took little time to get the TSH level down as it was 42 something. I've been on 75mg since. TBH I have not felt any benefit from it, but been told it's probably peri-menopause making me feel awful so just have to wait it out. (had some midcycle bleeding that was investigated).

I had a routine blood test and have been told I need to take iron supplements for 6 months as borderline anaemia. When I asked about my TSH, I was told it was showing as borderline hypothyroid. I raised that I had already been diagnosed, but the GP said he knew that but the result was showing as borderline but there was no need to change my medication.

Do you always appear as borderline hypothyroid once medicated?

No absolutely not. I think you need to ask your GP for a print out or email of your specific results. You should find out your TSH, T4 and T3 levels and take it from there. You probably need to do some research yourself on optimum levels of thyroid hormones and speak to your GP if you feel you warrant a dose change of levothyroxine.
Thyroid UK is a good place to start getting your head round blood levels of thyroid hormones thyroid UK
Good luck-it's a bit of a minefield but it usually takes a while to find out the optimum dose of levothyroxine.

Thank you.
I managed to get a copy of my results and my TSH is 5.59 (range is 0.3-5.6) but TS4 is 15.4 (6.3-14)
My area won't do T3 tests.
Though looking at my other results I'm possibly pre diabetic but that wasn't mentioned, so I'm not feeling like the GP will be particularly interested

I think I will investigate what private options there might be

If my TSH is above 1 then I feel utterly shocking.

I've been reading about it being below 1 once medicated. Mine never has.

Frustratingly, the gynaecologist started off saying I was under medicated for thyroid and that was likely causing the issues, but did a complete turnaround and said she wouldn't get involved and offered the Mirena. As I declined that I've been told my thyroid is fine and it's perimenopause which I'm choosing not to accept their treatment.

If my TSH is over 1 I’m floored. At 5.59 I’d probably be sofa bound, if not bed bound. I’m on 100mg a day to keep it below 1.

I have been really struggling and with the blood test saying at risk of diabetes, I really need to be more active (I mean I did anyway but this has given me a jolt). But I'm wrecked just getting through a normal day tbh

@LongPauseNoAnswer

If my TSH is over 1 I’m floored. At 5.59 I’d probably be sofa bound, if not bed bound. I’m on 100mg a day to keep it below 1.

I'm on125 daily. I was on 150 for a couple of years but it just nudged me in to hyperthyroid and I felt even worse than hypo.

If your TSH is 5.59 it's not 'borderline' except as an artificial 'border' created on a computer program for thyroid treatment! It has nothing to do with how one actually feels.

TSH should be around 1.0. You are very hypo with a TSH of 5.59. It means your body is struggling to produce enough T3 (the active thyroid hormone). If the NHS actually bothered measuring FT3 then you'd probably see you have a low value. Just having a FT4 that is 'sufficient' isn't good enough because not everyone converts FT4 to FT3 very well.

Diabetes risk is higher if you have uncontrolled hypo. We are often insulin resistant and would benefit from lowering carb intake. Cholesterol is another thing that's often raised. It will come down with optimal treatment of your thyroid.

Don't be fobbed off with the 'it's menopause' excuse. It really isn't.

How are you feeling now @RockinDobbin I followed your thread when you first started it- at that time I was feeling rotten as my t4 was 68.9 and tsh want even registering so very opposite to you. I’m thankfully feeling a lot better but I wondered if you were 😀💐

I was diagnosed with under active thyroid years ago at a routine blood test. No symptoms. Started on 50mg thyroxine, eventually raised to 75mg. Never had any symptoms and I don't feel better or worse for it.

I read some recent research saying these borderline tests and meds were pretty pointless in the absence of symptoms.